Thunder 92 vs 87 Nuggets summary, stats, scores and highlights | NBA Playoffs Game 4
The Thunder knew the history of teams that go down 3-1 in a series. Luckily for them they don't have to worry about becoming just the 14th team in history to comeback from a 3-1 deficit. They are heading back home with the series tied at 2-2 and suddenly have all the momentum in this series. It looks like this one might go all seven games, as both teams exchange blows. This was a game that Denver wanted. Close until the end, which has proved to be the Thunders' achilles heel, but the inexperienced OKC team showed they are learning on the fly in this series.
The Nuggets got back into the game by getting to the FT line in the first half. Unfortunately for them, it was also their downfall late in the game. Jokic missed a couple of big FTs and Gordon went 1/2 in back to back possessions and that allowed the Thunder to stretch the lead to 7 with 2:30 to go in the 4th quarter.
While SGA led the Thunder, it was Cason Wallace who dropped a couple of huge thres late in the game and gave the Thunder the lead. He had 11 points as the Thunder bench came up with 35 points, each and every one of them were needed.
Isaiah Hartenstein was brought in last summer to bring a bit of toughness to this team and that's exactly what he brought in Game 4. He "held" Jokic to 27 and 13 with just 3 assists and had some big buckets and alley oop lobs in the second half. He ended the day with 8 and 14 rebounds.
It looked like it was all going the Nuggets way in the 3rd quarter. Gordon who has had his fair share of big shots in this series and he gave the Nuggets their first lead after their terrible start. That seemed to wake the Thunder up for the final 20 minutes of the game.
The third quarter belonged to the Nuggets. They would take the lead after the Thunder came out of the break cold. Michael Porter Jr. battled through his shoulder injury, but this was his only field goal of the afternoon as he ended the day with 3 points.
SGA fell under some heavy criticism over the last week as the Thunder fell to a 2-1 deficit in the series. He responded when his team needed him most, despite the Nuggets throwing a zone look at him that kept him from getting to those spots he usually gets to so easily.
The offense started to click for the Nuggets in the second quarter, but half of their points came from the free throw line as OKC continued to give them free points from the FT line. Christian Braun provided a much needed spark on both ends of the ball as the rest of his team were in the midst of one of the worst halves of playoff basektball we have ever seen.
Denver hit just two field goals in the first quarter, and that allowed OKC to build up a double digit lead early on. They couldn't pull away because they were struggling from the field too, just not as much as Denver.
The Oklahoma City Thunder went into Ball Arena looking to avoid digging themselves a 3-1 hole and got a huge win in an ugly game in Denver. SGA led the way with 25 points in the 92-87 win to even up the series at 2-2.
The Thunder knew there was no room for error in Game 3, and came out the hotter of the two teams, but that's not really saying much considering the Nuggets scored 8 points in the first quarter.
IT'S ALL OVER!!!
OKC EVEN UP THE SERIES ON THE ROAD!!! IT'S 2-2 HEADING BACK TO OKC!!!
Williams to the line after the quick foul and he hits both FTs
Gordon banks home a three ball with 1.6 to go!!! Timeout Thunder on the inbound!!!
Gordon fouled by Caruso on the three ball and he hits one of two, but then there was a double violation on the third so we have a jump ball at half court.
Timeout DEN with 20 to go.
Williams to the line after the quick foul and he hits both FTs.
Murray airballed the three ball from the top of the key! This one might be over.
Timeout Thunder with 21 to go.
MPJ missed a mid range jumper from outside the lane. SGA missed an elbow jumper on the other end and DEN calls a timeout with 28.1 to go.
Jokic with the lay up off the feed from Gordon. 1:25 to go in the 4th!
SGA to the cup and he lays it up and in off the glass.
Gordon to the line after the foul on Caruso and he hits one of two FTs with 2:30 to go.
Williams to the cut and he lays it up and in with 3:00 to go in the 4th quarter!
The call stands and Jokic goes to the line but he misses both FTs!
Jokic fouled by Caruso and he is going to the FT line but not before the Thunder challenge the foul.
Timeout with 3:15 to go in the 4th quater.
Murray gets to the bucket and he lays it up and in off the glass.
Hartenstein to the line after the foul on Jokic and he hits one of two FTs.
SGA on the fader out of the timeout and he hits it from outside the lane.
SGA into the lane and he floats it up and gets the roll.
Timeout Nuggets with 4:36 to go in the 4th quarter!
Jokic with a pull up over Hartenstein and made the bucket with a lot of contact on the jumper.
SGA to the line after the foul on Westbrook and he hits both FTs.
Jokic to the line after the foul on Jay. Williams and he hits one of two FTs.
Murray on the step back and he hits the elbow jumper.
Caruso to the line after the foul on Gordon and he hits one of two FTs with 6:30 to go in the 4th quarter.
SGA to the line after the foul on Murray and he hits one of two FTs.
Wallace from the wing and he gives the Thunder the lead with a three! That's a 9-0 run for OKC!
Wiggins wide open from the wing and the Thunder are on a little 6-0 run!
Timeout Nuggets with 10:00 to go in the 4th quarter!
Wallace from the wing and he nails it off the dish from Willliams!
Gordon with the mid range jumper and he hits it fader from outside the lane.
Hartenstein on the alley oop from Williams and he throws it down and gets the foul! FT is good after the foul on Watson.
Watson starts the quarter with a hook shot from inside the lane and the Nuggets have their largest lead of the night.
WE ARE HEADING TO THE FOURTH QUARTER WITH THE NUGGETS UP BY 6!!!
Westbrook from the wing and he drops the three ball off the dish from Braun!
Holmgren missed the three ball but Wiggins snuck in for the rebound and put back down low.
Braun stretches out the lead with a three ball from the top of the key off the dish from Jokic!!!
Watson to the line after the foul on Holmgren but he misses both FTs.
Wiggins hits a big three ball from the wing and he got a friendly roll off the front iron!
Jokic to the line after the foul on Wallace and he hits both FTs.
Wallace answers back with a three ball from the corner off the dish from SGA!
Jokic bangs home a three ball on the step back from the wing!
Wallace with a much needed shot from the wing and cuts the lead in half with a three!
Murray off the dribble from the wing and he drills the three ball!!!
Timeout Thunder with 4:46 to go after a 10-0 run from Denver!
Jokic to the line after the foul on Hartenstein and he hits both FTs.
Murray finds Gordon who had all afternoon to shoot it and he hits the three from the wing to give DEN their first lead of the game!
Timeout Thunder with 6:42 to go in the 3rd quarter!
Jokic working down low and he lofts it up and in from under the bucket.
Dort in the corner and he drills the three ball off the feed from SGA!
Murray drops a three ball from the top of the key and it's a one point game from Denver!!!
Braun pulls up from downtown and he drills it! He's got 14 on the day!
Bruan sends Williams to the line where he hits both FTs.
Hartenstien with another lob up for Holmgren who throws down the alley oop!
Murray to the line after the foul on Holmgren and he hits both FTs.
Jokic pulls the trigger from long range and that goes for the Serbian! That's his 2nd of the day!
Hartenstein lobs it up for Holmgren who jams home the alley oop!
Porter Jr. to the rack and he slams it home off the feed from Gordon!
SGA to the line after the foul on Braun and he hits one of two FTs.
WE ARE BACK IN DENVER FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!
The Nuggets trailed by as many as 15 but Jokic and company starting to cut into the lead before the halftime break. Jokic has 11 after this up and under to beat the buzzer and head into halftime down by 6.
The Nuggets got going in the second quarter but they had nowhere to go but up. They scored 28 points in the 2nd quarter and chipped into the lead and trail by just 6. Braun has 11 points and has been a spark for the Nuggets in a low scoring affair.
The Nuggets scored just 8 points in the first quarter, and both teams combined for a postseason low 25 total points in the first half. OKC was ahead the whole half but never pulled away.
The OKC Thunder came out of the gate the hotter of the two teams, but that's not saying much considering how poorly the Nuggets shot to start the game. SGA got going early and is leading the Thunder with 15 points at half.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST HALF!!!!
It was an ugly half for both teams, but Denver cut into the lead and we have ourselves a ball game from Ball Arena!!
Jokic goes up and under from the top of the key as the clock runs out and he drains the three ball to end the half!!!
Jokic to the line after the foul on Hartenstein and he hits both FTs.
SGA goes into the body of Jokic, lays it up and in while falling to the ground and gets the foul! FT is good with 40 seconds to go.
Caruso with another three ball from the wing and SGA found him again!
Gordon pulls up from the wing and he drills the three ball!
SGA kicks it out to Caruso and he strings the three from the corner!
Braun running the break off the miss by OKC and Gordon got it to him for the lay up on the break!
Timeout Thunder with 3:22 to go in the 2nd quarter!
Williams down the lane and he lays it up and in.
Westbrook in the corner and he hits the wide open three ball off the dish from Jokic!! That's their first three in 17 attempts.
Jay. Williams with a pull up and he hits the mid range jumper from the elbow.
Jokic back and the line after the foul on Jay. Williams and he hits both FTs.
Jokic to the line after the foul on Jay. Willams and he hits both FTs.
Timeout Nuggets with 6:03 to go in the first half.
Jokic down low and he finally gets his first field goal to fall.
Holmgren on the baseline and he hits the mid range jumper over Jokic.
Braun to the line and he hits both FTs after the foul on SGA.
SGA with the step back on the baseline and he's the only one who is seeing shots go in today from Denver.
Murray to the FT line and he hits one of two after the foul on Joe.
Gordon pulls up from the FT line and he hits it.
Wallace missed the floater but Hartenstein was there with the tip in.
Braun to the line after the foul on SGA and he hits both FTs.
Braun to the line after the foul on Caruso and he hits both FTs.
Caruson finds Hartenstein off the steal on the other end and he slams it down.
Caruso to the line after the foul on Braun and he hits one FT before Hartenstein is called for a lane violation on the second.
Joe to the line after the foul on Westbrook and he hits one of two FTs.
SGA starts the quarter with a floater down the lane. He's got 10 on the day.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER!!!
That's one of the lowest scoring first quarters you will see. In fact it's the lowest scoring combined total for a first quarter in postseason history.
SGA has 8 to lead the Thunder and Murray has half of the Nuggets points with 4.
SGA to the line after the foul on Watson and he hits one of two FTs.
Braun to the FT line after the foul on Jay. Williams and he hits one of two.
SGA to the line after the foul on Strawther and he hits both FTs.
Timeout Thunder wit 1:57 to go in the first quarter.
Braun lost it down low and Wallace took it and put it up for a lay up off the turnover.
Caruso streaking to the rack on the break and he lays it up and in in transition.
Dort strings a three ball from the wing off the feed from Williams!
Murray puts it on the deck and goes right at Caruso before laying it up and over him.
Murray to the line and he hits both FTs after the foul on Williams
It's been frenetic, but kind of ugly so far as we head to the first timeout with 7:00 left in the first quarter!
SGA with another mid range jumper from the elbow and he hits it over Jokic.
Braun slips to the bucket and Jokic finds him for the slam down the lane.
SGA with his first field goal, as he hits the mid range fader from the FT line.
Porter Jr. to the line after the foul on Holmgren and he hits one of two FTs to put Denver on the board.
Jokic called for a defensive three seconds and SGA hits the technical FT.
Hartenstein dumps it off to Holmgren who soars to the rim and slams it home for the opening bucket of the game.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM BALL ARENA!!!
Battle of the MVPs
Is it possible that this series could determine who wins the NBA MVP award? I know it's a regular season award, but the two top candidates are going head to head. SGA was the NBA's leading scorer on the NBA's best team. Jokic averaged a triple double and had the best season of his career. That's saying something for a three time MVP. Only one of the two MVP candidates will be moving on, and that will mean much more than the award.
Thunder starting five
OKC come into the afternoon knowing there is no margin for error. They can't go down 3-1 in the series, because they know what history says about teams that dig themselves that kind of a hole. It's SGA, Lu Dort, J. Williams, Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstien to start Game 4 from Denver.
Nuggets starting five
Coach Adleman is going with his strongest five for Game 4 at Ball Arena. It's Murray, Braun, MPJ, Gordon and Jokic starting this huge game off from the Mile High City. They would love to get off to a good start and not have to fend off the Thunder at the end of the game.
Happy Mothers Day!!
There is nothing like a little NBA Playoffs on Mother's Day. It's like Thanksgiving and NFL Football. We spend all afternoon showering our beloved moms with gifts and loves and lunches, and they we all sit down together and enjoy some huge basketball games in the afternoon and into the night. Happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there, especially to those tuning in to our live blog to keep up with what's going on in this huge match up in Game 4 from Ball Arena.
Injury report: Nuggets
DaRon Holmes II is the only one on the injury report for the Nuggets but like Topic, the Nuggets rookie hasn’t played a game this year. The Nuggets have a clean injury report coming into Game 4. MPJ has been battling a shoulder injury during the postseason but he has brushed that off and is ready to help the Nugs try and take a 3-1 lead before heading back to Oklahoma City.
Injury report: Thunder
The Thunder come into today’s game with a clean injury report, and they are going to need all the help they can get from their starters all the way down to the last guy on the bench. It may be Game 4 but this has been a long series already with two of the three games going down to the final buzzer and then some. Nikola Topic has been out all year with a torn ACL, so they will be used to playing without their rookie.
Star watch: Nuggets
Nikola Jokic is giving all those nay sayers that were ready to hand the MVP trophy to SGA something to think about. He averaged a triple double in the opening round series against the Clippers and after a 42 point, 22 rebound night in Game 1 his numbers have dipped a bit, but he and the Nuggets are up 2-1 on the Thunder. He had 20, 16 and 6 last game but made sure that everyone else on the team got involved early. That’s the key to his game and the Nuggets success. He will put his numbers up. He just has to make sure that his teammates get involved right out of the gate.
Star watch: Thunder
He is likely to be the NBA’s MVP whenever the award is announced and he has been fantastic in the postseason but when your team loses two of the first three games of a series you have to look at your star when you are looking to place blame. He had 33 and 34 in the first two games, right around his season average, but last game he had just 18 points and didn’t do anything in the overtime session. He needs to be at his best today, and more importantly he needs to be at his best late in the game when his team needs him most.
Game 3 recap
After getting crushed in Game 2 from OKC, the Nuggets bounced back and regained control of the series with an overtime win from Ball Arena on Friday night. Much like Game 1, it was tight the whole way and neither team got out to a double digit lead at any point of the game. It was tied at the end of regulation and Jokic had a chance to win it at the buzzer but missed the game winging shot and the game went to OT. Once in OT it was all Nuggets who outscored the Thunder 11-2. Murray had 27 and Jokic had 20 and 16 rebound to out do Jalen Williams 32 and SGA’s 18 and 13 rebounds.
We are live from Ball Arena
Hello everyone and welcome to the Mile High City where the Nuggets are riding high after winning another close game against the league’s top team. They lead 2-1 and are back home looking to take one step closer to the Western Conference Finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder have been showing their inexperience over the last week. They bounced back from a Game 1 with a blowout win in Game 2, but OKC struggle in tight games down the stretch. They have a chance to even up the series today from Denver, but Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets will be hoping to take care of business in front of their home crowd.
Thunder vs. Nuggets Game 4 live
The best team in the NBA this regular season is in some serious trouble coming into today’s game. They need a win in Game 4 or they could dig themselves a hole that might be impossible to climb out of. The Oklahoma City Thunder are down 2-1 and on the road facing a Denver Nuggets team that has taken control of the series coming into this afternoon. AS English will be with you all day providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of today’s massive matchup from Ball Arena.